Monday, December 05, 2011
11:00 PM

Donald Trump has invited all the Republican presidential candidates to a debate. Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman promptly and properly turned down the offer.

In contrast, Newt Gingrich, hoping for a Trump endorsement, made a pilgrimage to Donald.

One must understand upfront this is not a gracious offer by Donald Trump to conduct a a fair debate. This is a self-serving promotion by Don Trump, for Don Trump, to put none other than Don Trump into the spotlight as kingmaker.

In Response to Trump's Offer Ron Paul's campaign chairman said “The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate that voters nationwide will be watching is beneath the office of the Presidency and flies in the face of that office’s history and dignity.

Mr. Trump’s participation as moderator will distract from questions and answers concerning important issues such as the national economy, crushing federal government debt, the role of the federal government, foreign policy, and the like. To be sure, Mr. Trump’s participation will contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere".

Republican strategists on Monday bemoaned the prospect of a presidential debate hosted by Donald Trump even as Newt Gingrich, surging in recent polls, made a pilgrimage to see Mr. Trump, a billionaire real estate mogul and reality TV star.

Mr. Gingrich arrived Monday at Trump Tower in New York to a crush of media, the latest Republican presidential candidate to court Mr. Trump. Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, and other candidates have also made the trip.

“Donald Trump is a great showman,” Mr. Gingrich told reporters after his closed-door meeting.

Mr. Gingrich has accepted an invitation by Mr. Trump to participate in a debate days before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. But leading Republican strategists and campaign officials on Monday condemned a Trump-moderated debate as a spectacle that would do more harm to the party than good.

Mr. Trump grabbed headlines this year by seizing on the “birther” issue, questioning where President Obama was born, and he continues to dangle the idea of an independent bid for the White House next year.

Karl Rove, the former political adviser to President George W. Bush, railed against the idea of a debate hosted by Mr. Trump. In an appearance on Fox News on Monday, Mr. Rove called on Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, to put a stop to the debate.

“What the heck are the Republican candidates doing showing up at a debate with a guy who says ‘I may run for president next year as an independent,’” Mr. Rove said. “I think the Republican National chairman ought to step in and say we strongly discourage every candidate from appearing.”

Mish Proposes an Alternative Debate

There is no need to stop the Trump circus. Let Gingrich go. If Romney wants to go too, let him. The two can debate to their heart's content with a Circus-Clown Pseudo-Republican "Great Showman" as the moderator.

Meanwhile, let's have another debate without distractions like Don Trump. More importantly, let's have a real debate without distractions like Newt Gingrich and any other Republican fools willing to fawn all over Don Trump as if Trump's "power to anoint" was worth a plug nickel.

Hello News Organizations...

Is there any news organization willing to sponsor an alternate debate, a real debate, preferably one that gives equal response time to candidates Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman?

After all, Paul and Huntsman are the only candidates with enough common sense to see what the proposal by Trump is really all about, and promptly decline the offer.

Also note that both Paul and Huntsman, unlike the other candidates have put forth serious economic proposals. Moreover, neither is likely to start another major war.

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